Friday, August 9, 2013

As part of our 125th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your
Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru
October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our
knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our
blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some
simple lessons in floristry.

Day 266 - A
number of species of zinnia are popular flowering plants. Their varied habits
allow for uses in several parts of a garden, and their tendency to attract
butterflies and hummingbirds is seen as desirable. A number of species of
zinnia are popular flowering plants. Their varied habits allow for uses in
several parts of a garden, and their tendency to attract butterflies and
hummingbirds is seen as desirable. Their ability to attract hummingbirds is
also seen as useful as a defense against whiteflies, and therefore zinnias are
a desirable companion plant, benefiting plants that are intercropped with it.
Zinnias are grown in the summer.

Day 267 -
There are many kinds of Zinnias and the general meaning of this flower is
thoughtfulness and friendship. Magenta zinnias symbolize lasing affection,
scarlet represent constancy, white mean goodness, yellow symbolize daily
remembrance and a mix of colors mean that one is thinking of an absent friend.

Day 268 –
Solidego is an attractive source of nectar for bees, flies, wasps, and
butterflies. Honey from solidego often is dark and strong due to admixtures of
other nectars. However when there is a strong honey flow, a light (often water
white), spicy-tasting monofloral honey is produced. While the bees are ripening
the honey produced from solidego it has a rank odor and taste, but finished
honey is much milder.

Day 269 – Solidego,
Solidago virgaurea, is used in
a traditional kidney tonic by practitioners of herbal medicine to counter
inflammation and irritation caused of bacterial infections or kidney stones.
Solidego has also been used as part of a tincture to aid in cleansing of the
kidney or bladder during a healing fast, in conjunction with potassium broth
and specific juices. Native Americans chewed the leaves to relieve sore throats
and chewed the roots to relieve toothaches.

Day 270 -
Variegation is the appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, and
sometimes the stems, of plants. This may be due to a number of causes. Some
variegation is attractive and ornamental and gardeners tend to preserve these.
The term is also sometimes used to refer to color zonation in flowers,
minerals, and the skin, fur, feathers or scales of animals.

Friday, June 7, 2013

As part of our 125th
Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of
floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post
something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things,
flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need
for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 121 - If you
receive roses with thorns, leave them. Removing the thorns wounds the stem. The
more wounds there are, the more likely the flower's life will be shortened.
"Barking" the stem ruins the vessels that transport water up the stem
to refresh the flower. It also creates an open wound through which bacteria can
enter. If you must remove a thorn, it's best to remove just a small piece of
the pointy tip. So be careful of those thorns and enjoy the beauty of the rose.

Day
122 – Kalanchoe is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent
flowering plants, popular because of their ease of propagation, low water
requirements and wide range of available colors. In traditional medicine,
Kalanchoe species have been used to treat ailments such as infections,
rheumatism and inflammation. Kalanchoe extracts also have immunosuppressive
effects. One variety has even been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago as being
used as a traditional treatment for hypertension.

Day
123 - Of all the flowers typically seen in an American garden, the marigold
never disappoints. From its resilience, outlasting most other annuals well into
the fall months and thriving in even the hottest driest weather, to its intense
fiery color, the lowly marigold fills in the bare garden spots more efficiently
than many other flowers. While the marigold flower, closely associated with the
sun's energy, carries positive connotations, it has also been perceived through
the ages to possess some darker qualities. It can symbolize jealousy and
cruelty and represent sorrow and feelings of unrest during a sad time.

Day
124 – Leaves are the plants’ food factory; producing carbohydrates by the
process of photosynthesis. The green pigment absorbs energy in the form of
sunlight and uses it to chemically combine carbon dioxide from the air with
water absorbed by the roots to make soluble sugar, which can then be converted
into insoluble starch and other products and subsequently stored as a potential
energy source.

Day
125 - In some countries of Europe, incurve chrysanthemums are symbolic of death
and are used only for funerals or on graves, while other types carry no such
symbolism; similarly, in China, Japan and Korea, white chrysanthemums are
symbolic of lamentation and/or grief. In some other countries, they represent
honesty. In the United States, the flower is usually regarded as positive and
cheerful, with New Orleans as a notable exception.

We are captivated by the beauty of flowers every day. This blog is dedicated to the moments when we are completely enthralled with the joy of flowers. Thank you for partaking in these moments with us.

Your authors are the expert designers and staff of Stein Your Florist Co. and Steins at Sunset Florist. Formed in 1887 in Philadelphia, PA, Steins is the city's oldest florist and has been named Philadelphia's Favorite Florist. Our vision is to share our love of flowers with the world, while maintaining socially and ecologically responsible practices.

Flowers make the moment... Let us make a moment for you at Stein Your Florist Co.